Summer's Back: Look Great This Season

The summer sun is finally here, and it's time to heat things up a bit with this year's summer styles. With an emphasis on fabric, denim, tailoring, and patterns, this summer is all about being simple, getting colorful, looking relaxed, and going out in style.

Take a look at what you should be running out to buy before the summer months hit, and you'll be attracting the ladies just in time for the sizzling weather.

time to tee-off

Whether you're going to work or hitting hole-in-ones with your buddies, polo piqué T-shirts are where it's at. From raspberry and turquoise to gray and orange, there's no limit to the range of shades of polo tees, so don't be afraid to let your colors shine (as for your true colors, now that's a different story).

Not only is there a whole palette of available colors where polo tees are concerned, but there is also a wide array of patterns adorning T-shirts, from stripes (mostly horizontal) to checks.

You can wear a polo T with or without a round-neck T-shirt underneath, which will show under the color.

V-necks are also popular T-shirts, only now they are tighter fitting with a higher V, rather than a low, big one.

As for button-down shirts, you can wear the same ones that you wore all spring — pastel cotton poplin shirts are popular, as are patterns such as checks and windowpane, as was described in my Spring Into Fashion article.

sweating it in sweaters

Hopefully you won't be needing a heavy sweater for the summer months (if it's cold, you can wear your spring jacket, but for those cooler nights or air-conditioned restaurants, just throw on a long-sleeved crew neck shirt (you can wear a button-down shirt underneath, the collar will show under the sweater).

blazing sports jackets

Even if you don't work in a suit-and-tie environment (many companies have a dress down policy for the summer regardless), a blazer or sports jacket is always a classy way to stay warm and look professional. Also great for those nights on the town, wear a blazer made of linen and cotton, or cotton and nylon (with a touch of spandex).

These can be worn with a pair of straight-leg pants or jeans, and over a polo T-shirt or button-down long-sleeved shirt.

whatever suits you

This season is seeing an emphasis on tailored suits, with clean, straight lines, as well as linen as a base fabric for everything from pants to suits. A natural fabric, linen is cool and breathable (perfect for those sweaty nights in clubs), and softens your suit when blended with another fabric.

Linen suits come in an array of shades such as camel, navy and black, and are sure to keep you comfortable throughout a long workday. The only drawback? Linen wrinkles easily and is harder to care for (must be dry-cleaned). Polylinen, on the other hand, doesn't wrinkle as much as regular linen.